WBEZ | Tom Skillinghttp://www.wbez.org/tags/tom-skilling
Latest from WBEZ Chicago Public RadioenMorning Shift: Weather could snag holiday travelhttp://www.wbez.org/programs/morning-shift/2014-12-23/morning-shift-weather-could-snag-holiday-travel-111285
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/main-images/5418700115_e5ee5f30c9_z.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>We take a look at how weather-and the winter-are shaping up in Chicago. And, we remember the life of longtime alderman of Chicago&rsquo;s 50th Ward, Bernard Stone. Also, we take a look at how non religious individuals handle the holiday season. Plus, we dig into our Morning Shift archives.</p><div class="storify"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="no" height="750" src="//storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-123/embed?header=false&amp;border=false" width="100%"></iframe><script src="//storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-123.js?header=false&border=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="//storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-123" target="_blank">View the story "Morning Shift: Weather could snag holiday travel" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div></p>Tue, 23 Dec 2014 07:55:00 -0600http://www.wbez.org/programs/morning-shift/2014-12-23/morning-shift-weather-could-snag-holiday-travel-111285Morning Shift: The work/life debate continues for a new generation of womenhttp://www.wbez.org/programs/morning-shift-tony-sarabia/2014-03-03/morning-shift-worklife-debate-continues-new
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/main-images/by Victor1558_0.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>We examine the media&rsquo;s role in the &quot;women can&rsquo;t have it all&quot; debate, learn about this winter&rsquo;s effect on housing sales, and a conversation with legendary avant rock musician Fred Frith.&nbsp;</p><div class="storify"><iframe src="//storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-myths-of-the-work-vs-life-debate-for/embed?header=false" width="100%" height=750 frameborder=no allowtransparency=true></iframe><script src="//storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-myths-of-the-work-vs-life-debate-for.js?header=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="//storify.com/WBEZ/morning-shift-myths-of-the-work-vs-life-debate-for" target="_blank">View the story "Morning Shift: The work/life debate continues for a new generation of women" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div></p>Mon, 03 Mar 2014 08:33:00 -0600http://www.wbez.org/programs/morning-shift-tony-sarabia/2014-03-03/morning-shift-worklife-debate-continues-new'Afternoon Shift' #176: Weathering stormshttp://www.wbez.org/programs/afternoon-shift/2012-10-25/afternoon-shift-176-weathering-storms-103421
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/main-images/Skilling Kogan weather center 2 web.jpg" alt="" /><p><script src="http://storify.com/WBEZ/afternoon-shift-175-weathering-storms.js?header=false&border=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="http://storify.com/WBEZ/afternoon-shift-175-weathering-storms" target="_blank">View the story "'Afternoon Shift' #176: Weathering storms" on Storify</a>]</noscript></p>Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:56:00 -0500http://www.wbez.org/programs/afternoon-shift/2012-10-25/afternoon-shift-176-weathering-storms-103421Ask cranky Tom Skilling 'why'http://www.wbez.org/blog/claire-zulkey/2011-11-30/ask-cranky-tom-skilling-why-94452
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/blog/photo/2011-November/2011-11-30/cranky tom skilling.jpg" alt="" /><p><p style="text-align: left;">Typically, WGN’s chief meteorologist <a href="http://www.wbez.org/blog/claire-zulkey/2011-09-30/tom-skilling-interview-92670">Tom Skilling</a> addresses <a href="http://www.chicagoweathercenter.com/news/asktomwhy/">reader questions</a> with his famous cheery aplomb, but thanks to our newly-acquired mind-reading powers, we learn what he’s really thinking as he takes on weather-related queries.*</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/blog/insert-image/2011-November/2011-11-30/cranky tom skilling.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 333px;" title=""><br>
&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</p><p><br>
<strong>Dear Tom: What is Honolulu's annual precipitation? --Jimmy in Downers Grove</strong><br>
Hi Jimmy. I’m going to level with you: I’m not having a great day (I always get like this when the dewpoint really gets low) and I'm not really in the mood to take on questions like this that have nothing to do with Chicago. So, honestly, I don’t know. Three inches? Thirty inches? Something like that. Next question.<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: I remember a snowfall on March 31-April 1, 1975. Can you fill me in on the details? --Marie in Glenview</strong><br>
Like what, exactly, Marie? What you were wearing? What were the top grossing movies of the time? &nbsp;This sounds like you’re asking me to help you relive the past. I am a meteorologist, not some sort of repressed memory psychologist. It snowed, okay? It snowed and it was white and it was on the ground and it was cold and then it went away.<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: Now that it's April, can I safely assume we will see no more snow until next winter? --Helen in Evanston</strong><br>
Helen, do you live in Chicago? Have you lived here for more than five minutes? Your only excuse for asking such a ridiculous question is that you’ve only just moved here and haven’t thought to ask any other less-busy people about this. &nbsp;The answer is no. It's going to snow for forever.<br>
<br>
<strong>Dear Tom: Is it true that temperatures in excess of 100 degrees and fierce southerly winds preceded the 1871 Chicago Fire? --Keith in Lakeview</strong><br>
Keith, I'm going to give you some advice. &nbsp;What you need is a girlfriend, and not an obsession with this “historical weather” nonsense. No one is impressed by this type of thing.. And I do know the answer, but I’m not going to tell you.<br>
<br>
<strong>Dear Tom: What’s Honolulu’s average annual temperature? --Jimmy in Downers Grove</strong><br>
You again with your Honolulu. Were all the Hawaiian meteorologists busy today or something? Leave me alone.<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: What are the odds of me going outside randomly and getting wet? --Linda in Hyde Park</strong><br>
Linda, the odds are 100%, because now I know where you live and I will be waiting outside with a hose.<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: What cities in the U.S. lie close to the same latitude as Santorini, Greece? --Owen in Springfield</strong><br>
OK, this isn’t funny anymore. Have people been giving out my email address as a joke? Do I look like the face of Wikipedia? You’re not even trying to make this question about weather. Here’s a question for you: are you proud of yourself for bothering a tired and irritable meteorologist with irrelevant questions? Are you?<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: When you see the weather report and it says "partly cloudy" and then the next day it says "partly sunny"; what’s the difference? --Moe in Lake Charles</strong><br>
I bet you think you’re quite clever for asking this question, don’t you? Clever little question-asker. What would you do if I told you that the difference between “partly cloudy” and “partly sunny” is actually a matter of life or death? You’d wonder if I was asking a real question, or just trying to be funny. Either way, it’s not so pleasant, is it?<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: Where were Chicago weather observation taken 75-100 years ago? --Richard in Lincolnshire</strong><br>
This is actually a good question, Richard, but unfortunately, all the shenanigans from the other readers have made me unwilling to answer anything else seriously today. Don’t blame me: blame your friends who thought it would be so cute to write in about Honolulu and Santorini and send in trick questions.<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: I’m getting married next weekend. Will it rain on my wedding day? --Lisa in Lincoln Square</strong><br>
Lisa, the more important question is: somebody’s marrying you?<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: What’s your favorite weather condition? &nbsp;--Julio in the Loop</strong><br>
Cloudy with a chance of shut the hell up.<br>
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<strong>Dear Tom: Has it ever snowed in Honolulu? --Jimmy in Downers Grove</strong><br>
Dear Jimmy: I’m going to punch you in the face.</p><p><strong>Dear Tom: What is hoarfrost? --Hank in Aurora</strong><br>
The answer is: Your mom.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>*Just to be clear, this is but a loving homage to Chicago's favorite meteorologist. </em></p><p><em>PS: The submissions of the <a href="http://www.wbez.org/blog/claire-zulkey/2011-11-28/secret-life-cleatus-fox-sports-robot-94394">Cleatus the FOX Sports Robot</a> are rolling in. Don't forget to submit yours by next Monday! (You don't really have to watch football to join in.) </em></p></p>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:22:00 -0600http://www.wbez.org/blog/claire-zulkey/2011-11-30/ask-cranky-tom-skilling-why-94452Hold your horses, Chicago: No linen or white pants until AFTER Memorial Day http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/2011-05-24/hold-your-horses-chicago-no-linen-or-white-pants-until-after-memoria
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/blog/photo/2011-May/2011-05-24/Chicago-linen.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>There are several top stories today. The Tahawwur Rana trial, Rahm and the Blago trial, ComEd might raise rates. All those stories are wonderful, exciting and must-read news stories. But I have a better one:</p><p>The abuse of white pants and linen before Memorial Day.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="caption" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/blog/insert-image/2011-May/2011-05-24/Chicago-linen.jpg" title="Would you make a citizen's arrest if you saw this guy on Michigan Ave? " width="500" height="408"></p><p>I'm no fashion blogger or part of any fashion authority. But I do have a few pair of linen pants and I have been forbidden to bring them out until AFTER Memorial Day, based on some tribal law that if broken will be bring you shame. If caught, I would have to wear a Scarlet L.</p><p>So to my surprise, the good weather has prompted several linen/white pants spotting in Chicago. So we have a problem. Either we enforce this with tickets/fines/arrests or we try to change the fashion world's mentality to start linen season early. Thoughts?</p><p><strong>B story</strong>: <a href="http://www.wbez.org/story/terrorist-back-stand-today-chicago-trial-86940">The Rana terror trial is underway</a>. The quick cheat sheet on this trial: Tahawwur Rana is on trial for providing support to terrorists - the same terrorists who attacked several locations in Mumbia, India a few years back. The government's star witness is David Headley, who was busted in October '09 for helping out in the planning. In exchange for Headley's testimony against his alleged partner, Rana, Headley is avoiding the death penalty. So this big trial started yesterday with opening statements and then the prosecution called Headley right off the bat. Boom, get the superstar out and in front of the jury quick. Headley showed up yesterday for his big moment in the sun with a polo shirt and running jacket on. It's federal court, homey. And you are trying to convice a bunch of judges and lawyers to spare your life. Maybe put on a tie? I don't care if the feds say it's a choking hazard. Rise above.</p><p><strong>C story</strong>: So if the <a href="http://wjbc.com/rahm-emanuel-says-hell-testify-in-blagojevich-retrial-if-asked/">Blagojevich lawyers want to call Mayor Rahm Emanuel</a>, he will come to court. Something tells me that the Blago lawyers will do just that, for the hope of sullying another politician's name. I'm not sure if the mayor will have anything to say to help, and probably has more dirt on the former governor than what Blago's charged with. But heck, how great would it be for the new mayor to hit the stand in a corruption trial before finishing his first full month in office. Only in Chicago.</p><p><strong>Weather</strong>: I have to say, the <a href="http://blog.chicagoweathercenter.com/severe-weather-updates/">Chicago Tribune severe weather blog</a> was tops on Sunday night. With the threat of tornados coming through the Chicago area, I just pictured Skilling doing spots on WGN, CLTV and hunting and pecking that there were reports of roof damage at a post office in Belvidere. Awesome.</p><p><strong>Sports</strong>: I must be the only person in Chicago that couldn't care less about what a fan yelled at <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/roeper/5552001-452/joakim-noahs-apology-for-anti-gay-slur-seemed-sincere.html">Noah to trigger his courtside rant and gay slur</a>. C'mon, this contrary opinion that it was the fan's fault or the media's fault for trying to catch athletes in "gotcha" moments in absurd. This kind of blathering commentary happens when jocks become sports columnists and analysts. I watched Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson last night (OKC/Dallas game) talk about the incident and put the blame on fans (they say hurtful things!) and the television cameras for having to cut back to Noah to catch him in a "gotcha" moment. Hilarious. Yeah, it couldn't be Noah's fault? If he were mad at a fan, he could have told the guy off with different language. The NBA has made it clear that you can't use that word at work. And David Haugh in the Tribune had the best point: It's just a lack of discipline. Noah used lazy language. And as a highly paid basketball player, you should have more discipline in all parts of your work. Not just on the court.</p><p>Also, did you see<a href="http://www.suntimes.com/5562160-417/video-george-w.-bush-saved-from-foul-ball-by-white-sox-a.j.-pierzynski"> A.J. Pierzynski play a secret service agent and protect former President George W. Bush from a foul ball</a>?</p><p><strong>Kicker</strong>: Derrick Rose's new commercial features the "L", the Chicago skyline and light shoes:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m26UfLOKsrY" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe></p></p>Tue, 24 May 2011 13:59:00 -0500http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/2011-05-24/hold-your-horses-chicago-no-linen-or-white-pants-until-after-memoria